Award-winning farming attraction put up for sale

For more than a quarter of a century, Richard Powell and Martyn Hughes have welcomed families through the gates of Park Hall Countryside Experience.

They have watched children grow up, return as adults and then bring their own children through the doors.

Now, after 26 years, the pair have decided it is time for somebody else to take the attraction forward.

The farmers set up the attraction near Oswestry in 2000 with a simple aim: To give children a better understanding of farming and the countryside.

"At the time farming generally was going through a really tough time reputationally and we thought it would be really nice to educate children about farming and the wider countryside," Powell said.

What began as an educational project grew into an award-winning family attraction spread across 123 acres (50 hectares), home to animals including cows, sheep, pigs, alpacas, guinea pigs and rabbits.

Visitors can also explore a World War One trench system, a Victorian school, a soft play area and a cafe, while seasonal events such as Pumpkinfest and animal races have become fixtures in the calendar.

For Hughes, one of the most rewarding parts of the venture has been seeing generations of families return.

"We're seeing people who came as young visitors now bringing their own children," he said.

Over the years, the pair have built strong relationships with regular customers.

"They're still excited to see you," Hughes said.

The decision to sell did not come easily.

Powell said the pair eventually concluded "that perhaps both of us had done our time", while recent health issues had also helped him decide it was the right moment to step back.

Even so, neither man is willing to rush the process.

The attraction is on the market with a guide price of £999,999, but finding the right buyer is more important than securing a quick sale.

"We want to make sure we have the right buyer that can carry on our work over the future," Mr Powell said.

Keeping the attraction running has not always been straightforward.

Just a year after opening, the business was forced to close for several months during the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

"We hadn't been open very long and we had to close for four to five months and at that time there was no government support at all," Mr Powell said.

"It was very, very tough and we did wonder whether we'd be able to survive."

Years later, the coronavirus pandemic brought another enforced closure and another test of the attraction's resilience.

Despite those challenges, the business endured.

Powell plans to retire once a sale is completed, while Hughes will continue farming.

"I'm fortunate, I've still got a farm so I won't stop. Still got a little bit to do," he said.

As they look towards the future, both men say their priority is protecting what they have built, as well as the staff who helped make it a success.

They hope fresh owners will bring fresh ideas.

But above all, they want somebody who understands what Park Hall has meant to local families over the past 26 years.

"We've built a legacy that we hope someone will fulfil," Hughes said.

"You can always paint a different picture, can't you."

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